Boycott threatened over Arizona immigration law

Leaders of the immigration reform movement said Monday that they are weighing an economic boycott of Arizona over a restrictive measure signed into law that instructs police to question people about their immigration status.

Rosa Rosales, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said a boycott of Arizona’s tourism and hospitality industries was under consideration because of the law is disrespectful to Latinos.

Immigration reform leaders stopped just short of calling for a boycott, but warned that that and other economic actions were being considered.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill last week. It is set to take effect later this summer.

The bill is a response to the failure by the federal government to address immigration reform, critics say.

President Barack Obama has called on the Justice Department to determine whether the Arizona law infringes on U.S. law.

Ali Noorani, National Immigration Reform executive director, said the Arizona law would lead to racial profiling.

The law would require police to inquire about immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally. Immigrants unable to prove legal status could be fined $2,500 and jailed for up to six months.